At least two McGovern brothers immigrated to America from Ireland: Bernard M. McGovern, born in Ireland in 1815 and Charles McGovern, born in Ireland in 1812. Both were engaged in the carpenter trade and settled in Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. From census records it appears that the brothers were in Pennsylvania by 1841. They married women born in Pennsylvania and began to raise families about 1843. Both are enumerated in Girard Township on the 1850 Pennsylvania Federal Census, but only Bernard M. McGovern remained. There is a record in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania for both Bernard and Charles McGovern listing them as "military men in 1853 and 1854. On the 1860 census report, Bernard lists his occupation as farmer. The family of Bernard M. McGovern lived south of LeConte’s Mills where Bernard had a sizeble farm of 220 acres. The property is part of the 1878 Caldwells Atlas, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania on page 191. Bernard and his two sons, Daniel and Wesley are listed in the Girard Township Directory in Caldwells Atlas. On the 1880 census, all of his sons were still living at home and helping him farm his property. Bernard lists that both of his parents were born in Ireland and Susanna lists her parents as having been born in Pennsylvania. Bernard’s nephew, Michael McGovern is also living with the family, and his grand daughter, Loretta Hoover, is visiting.
The children of Bernard M. and Susanna McGovern:
ROSANNA McGOVERN born 1843 in LeConte’s Mills, Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania married BERNARD GREEN.
The family of Charles and Catherine McGovern:
Thank you to Mike Gardner for his assistance in researching the McGovern family.
Updated March, 2001
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